Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) is a state-based national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing dropouts among young people who have serious barriers to graduation and/or employment. In more than three decades of operation, JAG has delivered consistent, compelling results – helping over one million young people stay in school through graduation, pursue postsecondary education and secure quality entry-level jobs leading to career advancement opportunities.

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Not many people would take on 500 4th graders. However, this February J.A.G. students from the Prairie Phoenix Academy, an alternative high school in Sun Prairie WI, volunteered two days of their time to mentor the entire local elementary school 4th grade population which turned out to be 500 students.

Jobs for America’s Graduates partners with many businesses and organizations throughout the United States. Often times these organizations provide guest speakers who visit JAG classrooms, donate products or money to the JAG programs and offer their resources to assist the JAG programs in their community. In South Carolina at West Florence High School, Job Specialist Linda Williams partnered with Bank of America to help educate her JAG students.

By David Galin and Chris Howell
Special to the Press Herald
March 24, 2014

The need to educate and train the next generations of Maine workers is well established. Our workforce is aging, and employment opportunities call for knowledge and skills beyond our current high school graduation requirements.

Across the state, educators and community members are working to advance local efforts to increase understanding and build connections between public schools and private enterprise to help deepen and broaden the learning experience for students.

The Rio Grande High School’s JAG program is proud to announce a unique opportunity in partnering with TherapyWorks, Inc. This opportunity may well expand into benefiting the whole Rio Grande community to collaborate with international lecturers and authors, who happen to live in Albuquerque. Kristine Moore, the JAG Specialist, summarizes by sharing, “The students are taking ownership of their job responsibilities and are working together as a cohesive team.”

Last March the Iowa JAG program ( iJAG) faced a cut in funding of close to a million dollars. Each year JAG programs face budget cuts and compete for funding from public and private sources. The students enrolled in the JAG programs are the most powerful influence when lobbying for funding from state legislatures. The iJAG students recently had an opportunity to witness the legislative process and to assist in the task of securing additional funding for the iJAG programs.

For any family or individual, a good job can mean everything. Ultimately landing that job starts months, and even years, in advance. Whether it is a child’s earliest learning at home, elementary and high school education or workforce training, the foundation for success is laid long before a potential employee walks into an interview.

Every JAG program comes up with events that fit their community and their individual programs. In most cases the JAG students participate in mentoring activities. Some partner with pre-school or elementary school classes. Younger children always think their older peers are “cool”. They look up to them. In the small town of Hot Springs, Montana the JAG program hosted the inaugural event in what they hope will become an annual tradition.

JAG is pleased to announce that the 2014 National Training Seminar will return to Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida July 14-18, 2014. Please use the link below to access information regard the National Training Seminar.

Career Opportunities for JAG Graduates

ADM is a company where you can make a difference in yourself, your future and the world. ADM guarantees an interview to any JAG graduate who applies for a job. This is not a guarantee of an offer, but all JAG graduates will be granted an interview. Visit adm.com/careers today to search for job opportunities. And, to check on the status of your application, email JAG@adm.com.

The JAG National Network will make a measurable difference in the outcomes of public education and workforce development systems at the national, state and local level. We will strive to increase opportunity and reduce poverty and unemployment by fostering A Nation Without Dropouts.

JAG is committed to...

...helping resolve our country's dropout and transition problems by expanding state organizations and local programs that help young people overcome barriers to graduation from high school and become college and career ready!